The plea came six days after a a jury - considering first-degree murder and armed robbery charges against Riley - deadlocked, forcing a mistrial for the second time.

In April, another jury also failed to reach a verdict in the case.

Riley faced a possible death sentence if convicted in the slaying of his former boss, Subway shop owner Douglas Rebman, 25, of Pompano Beach.

Under the plea, Riley was sentenced to 15 years, but prosecutors say he will likely serve between four and nine years in prison.

"Do not think of me as a murderer, because I am not," Riley said in a letter that Brabham read after the plea hearing in Palm Beach County Circuit Court.

"I had nothing to do with this awful, awful tragedy," Riley's letter said.

Rebman's stepfather, Frank Simone of Pompano Beach, expressed the frustration felt by him and his family.

"I think it's a real copout. Here he is saying he didn't do it, then he makes a plea to 15 years," Simone said.

Riley's mother, Jeanette McGriff of Deerfield Beach, declined to comment as she left the courtroom.

Simone noted that Riley faces an additional 15 years if convicted of attempted murder in a shooting in Broward County four months before Rebman's slaying.

"Hopefully, he'll get what's due him somehow," Simone said.

Palm Beach County State Attorney Barry Krischer, who attended Thursday's plea hearing, said the plea deal was offered because prosecutors feared another trial could also end in a mistrial.

"If there was a third hung jury, there was case law in my mind that would authorize the judge to preclude a further trial in the interest of justice," Krischer said.

The state's case would have been stronger had a statement given by Riley's co-defendant, Linell Feagin, not been ruled inadmissible by Circuit Judge Walter N. Colbath Jr., Krischer said.

Feagin had told Boca Raton police investigators that he drove Riley to the Subway at 477 N. -Federal Highway, Boca Raton. Riley, wearing surgical gloves and a lion's mask, robbed Rebman and shot him in the head on April 3, 1993, Feagin said.

But Colbath ruled that "police behavior" during interrogation resulted in him ruling that the statement was not "freely and voluntarily made," Krischer said.

Asked why he hadn't offered Feagin a plea deal in exchange for his testimony against Riley in the last trial, Krischer said: "I don't favor flipping defendants and buying testimony."

Krischer said Feagin's attorney since has been offered a similar plea deal.

Brabham, who estimated the state has spent about $500,000 trying Riley twice, said his client had refused an earlier plea offer from the state. That deal, he said, included a 25-year sentence in exchange for a second-degree murder plea and Riley testifying against Feagin.